LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 14, 1999

GRAMERCY – Federal investigators began their probe of the July 5 Kaiser plant explosion on Monday.

The investigators, from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration,began their formal, on-site inspection into all plant operations immediately prior to, during and after the blast that injured 21 Kaiser workers.

MSHA is akin to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but MSHA concerns itself primarily with all underground and surface mining operations, mineral mills, quarries, sand and gravel operations and mineral processing plants.

Rodney Brown of MSHA said Monday, “We’ve just begun this morning, and we have nothing to report yet.”Meanwhile, Baton Rouge General Hospital reported that Todd Landry remains in critical but stable condition, and Gary Gui is in stable condition from their explosion-related injuries.

Brown said the MSHA team, with expertise in the areas of structural damage, electrical systems and explosions, among other areas, plans to determine the cause of the accident.

Then, armed with their findings, MSHA will issue a public report and also take steps to insure similar accidents don’t happen in the future.

MSHA also will determine if any violations of federal mine safety and health regulations happened.

Gramercy Mayor Ronald St. Pierre, meanwhile, said crews continue torepair broken windows and wash vehicles and houses across town. Theexplosion blew red bauxite dust across the 3,000-population town. Thatdust raised immediate health concerns which already prompted the filing of lawsuits seeking class-action status.

More than 3,000 reports from across southeast Louisiana and part of south Mississippi poured into Gramercy’s tiny emergency operations center.

Those reports were turned over late last week to Kaiser’s insurance carrier.

“There were 2,300 when we quit counting,” St. Pierre said, “but theinsurance company said there were 3,000. They’re still coming from otherplaces.”He added more reports may be made by phoning 1-800-453-4715, for property damage only.

St. Pierre expressed his gratitude to the town hall staff and the unionstrikers from Kaiser who have continued to assist their friends and neighbors.

“It’s been going pretty smoothly,” St. Pierre said. A board of aldermen meeting was held Monday to hear a report on the incident from MSHA which St. Pierre said was well-attended but brief.”Nobody said anything,” the mayor said. “I thought we’d have a midnightmeeting. Nobody had any questions.”Meanwhile, attorneys are trying to sweep into Gramercy in the wake of the explosion, which prompted the Louisiana State Bar Association to notify surrounding communities about the rules governing attorney conduct and communication with prospective clients.

In cases of accidents or disasters similar to Kaiser, the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit attorneys from initiating written communications within 30 days of an incident with prospective clients with whom they have had no previous contact.

Solicitation through unwanted personal visits or phone calls by an attorney with which there is no prior association, or someone working for an attorney, violates these rules.

Also, soliciting clients by coercion, duress, harassment, fraud, intimidation or undue influence is not allowed. Communication by mail isallowed if it is clearly marked “advertisement” and does not resemble a legal document.

Any person improperly contacted by an attorney should file a complaint by calling 1-225-293-3300 or 1-800-326-8022, or in writing to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4000 South Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 607,Baton Rouge, La. 70816.

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